Topic: Japan gets all the good stuff!

[Shiroi Koumori]

This is a place to post all things great about Japan.


McDonald's 60 Second Campaign
McDonald's Japan's new 60-second campaign

[Abnormal Freak]

I can't help but want to post all the stuff that's NOT so great about Japan. :p Such as...

http://kotaku.com/5484581/japan-its-not-funny-anymore

and...

http://www.cracked.com/article_20118_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-living-in-japan.html



But they sure make some good animooz, that's for sure.

[Donvermicelli]

The low amount of fat in their food? They use a minimum of oil to prepare food resulting in less greasy food!

[P/\/\\/o]

Japan gets some good stuff, indeed. But they also miss a ridicilous amount of stuff, we 'westeners' take for granted. Just look at the majority of devs and pubs of Xbox and western PC-games. They actually have import-shops there, and the games similarly cost a tons more there.

But the stuff Europe misses, now THAT'S a blasphemy! 

[Laina]

I hear it's next to IMPOSSIBLE to find vegetarian food there. Everything has a little dash of pork bone marrow, or beef stock, or something. If I were full on vegetarian (I dine on seafood on occasion) sounds like I'd be hard-pressed to find a good meal.

Seems like this wasn't always the case though-

http://gaijinass.com/2011/12/13/6-things-japan-gave-up-to-be-civilized-that-we-civilized-cultures-now-do/

[P/\/\\/o]

I hear it's next to IMPOSSIBLE to find vegetarian food there. Everything has a little dash of pork bone marrow, or beef stock, or something. If I were full on vegetarian (I dine on seafood on occasion) sounds like I'd be hard-pressed to find a good meal.

Seems like this wasn't always the case though-

It's always been the case. And if not beefstock, fishstock is like most crucial thing in the whole cuisine. So there's no way you can avoid it, if you do not have cash and some major knowledge about trendy cuisine there. But hey, at least there's tofu! God bless tofu! 

[Laina]

Tofu is fucking delicious when done right. Paavo, come to America & let me cook for you! If spending thousands of dollars flying halfway across the globe to the middle of nowhere so an anemic looking blonde girl can cook for you sounds a little less than practical, just say it was a life experience. You went on a soul searching sabbatical in the wilderness (I have bears wander through my backyard on occasion, no shit) & wanted to experience a different way of life from a simple, yet strong & dignified people...wait, that sounds a bit too much like what folks say when they try to cover up a sex tour to a developing country. Ne...never mind.

Anyway, let's get things back on track-Japan gets this while we don't & I'm all butt-hurt over that.

http://www.puroland.co.jp/english/welcome.html

[P/\/\\/o]

Haha, sounds sweet! 

Also, Puro-land rocks! Even when it's a glorified shopping mall to all things Sanrio! I got TONS of pics from there, anyone wanna see? 

[Laina]

Also, Puro-land rocks! Even when it's a glorified shopping mall to all things Sanrio! I got TONS of pics from there, anyone wanna see? 

Paavo, Paavo...why would you even ask that? Post them, NAO!

[Shiroi Koumori]

Please post them Paavo!
I love Sanrio products!

[TheCruelAngel]

Yeah, Japan is freaking sweet. I love going there and visiting my family.

And if you think McD's in Japan is good, wait until you try Moss Burger. And you think that's crazy? Check out the menu for Denny's in Japan! http://www.dennys.jp/dny/menu/index.html

UNGPH, god I love family diners like that in Japan. Always so good! And the customer service, oh lawdy the customer service is to die for (compared to here in the good ol' US of A!). I wish people here were HALF as courteous and polite as the Japanese working in service industries (getting gas is a whole other experience SAMPLE: http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/gtr-vs-train-1).

Though if I'm honest, I also really love visiting the cultural heritage site (Yasukuni shrine, Osaka Castle, Golden Pavilion, etc.), and even the more touristy sites like the Ramen theme park (http://www.bento.com/phgal3.html), themed cafes (the Gundam one is seriously delicious) and maid cafes are an interesting experience.

But...if I'm really honest...I love the super otaku places where I can buy my nerd paraphernalia for the cheap. 

And now some pics!
Me and the Missuz in front of the 1/1 scale Gundam when it was in Shizuoka.


Me, the Missuz and our buddy in front of the Kenta-kun (Kentucky-kun, get it?!) in Akihabara.


Me and the Missuz in front of Osaka castle!

[Laina]

...I hate you, you lucky sonofabitch.

Seriously though, nice pics, thanks for sharing them. I've always wanted to see the Gundam statue myself along with good ole Kentah-kun considering I'm from Kentucky.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Me, the Missuz and our buddy in front of the Kenta-kun (Kentucky-kun, get it?!) in Akihabara.

Kenta-kun looks better in Kyoto since he is wearing a Kimono. I had a picture of the Colonel somewhere. But since I am lazy, I'll just get a pic from the internet.
http://simonhiggins.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/jj22.jpg

Akihabara is one of the places to shop for otaku goodies! I love the little second hand stores with competitive prices and yes all of them are cheap!

There are a lot of cheap places to eat really delicious food. Even convenience store food is good.
But one of the best restaurants to eat is Kani Doraku. Ahhhh Japanese spider crab dinners are awesome.....
http://douraku.co.jp.e.at.hp.transer.com/

Ikebukuro, Tokyo is also a great place for sightseeing and shopping. http://www.infomapjapan.com/sight_Ikebukuro.phtml
I love the ice cream city and gyoza stadium in Namja Town.
But the main store of Animate is the main attraction for Otakus! This area is less crowded than Akihabara but most of the shoppers here cater to the female crowd. Males might prefer to just stay in Akihabara because Ikebukuro is well known for its Otome (female otakus) road.

[TheCruelAngel]

The one in Akiba usually gets dressed up in cosplay, like Eva unit 01, we just happened to catch him in normal clothes that day. 

Source: Internetz


I haven't hit up anywhere in Ikebukuro yet, Otome stuff doesn't really phase me (I think it comes with the territory) so I'll have to check it out sometime! I think I like DenDen Town in Osaka a little better than Akihabara, if only because I don't have to climb super tiny staircases up 4 stories to check out some weird shop. And I found more Gunpla dedicated stores in DenDen Town as well. 

My recommendation for good eats would be (other than Denny's and Moss Burger) Curry House CoCo! But I am a fiend for good Japanese style curry...oh oh! And if you haven't tried it, definitely get some sushi from one of the local sushi bars by the Tsukiji fish market, so gooooooooood. 

[Shiroi Koumori]

I haven't hit up anywhere in Ikebukuro yet, Otome stuff doesn't really phase me (I think it comes with the territory) so I'll have to check it out sometime! I think I like DenDen Town in Osaka a little better than Akihabara, if only because I don't have to climb super tiny staircases up 4 stories to check out some weird shop. And I found more Gunpla dedicated stores in DenDen Town as well. 

My recommendation for good eats would be (other than Denny's and Moss Burger) Curry House CoCo! But I am a fiend for good Japanese style curry...oh oh! And if you haven't tried it, definitely get some sushi from one of the local sushi bars by the Tsukiji fish market, so gooooooooood. 

Osaka DenDen town is better organized than Akiba. Yeah Osaka has a lot more plamodel shops but the Gundam Shop there takes the cake! Speaking of Gundam? Have you eaten at the Gundam Cafe near Akihabara Station? http://g-cafe.jp/ It is a must experience for die hard Gundam fans. The lines are long by nightfall because they are serving Gundam themed cocktails.

Oh yes... I remembered Curry House CoCo! I used to eat there a lot since it was beside the university I was attending!

Tsukiji sushi bars are the best! Really fresh seafood straight out of the market.... ahhhhhh......